For Singaporean boys, planning for university requires taking into account National Service (NS). This can be frustrating. Many families are uncertain about deferment and when to apply to optimise chances of getting into their dream university. There are a lot of questions around how long you can defer entry, whether candidates are allowed to apply multiple times and how to take leave for admissions tests and interviews. 

This article explains how National Service affects UK university applicants, what deferment means in practice and how Singaporean boys can plan strategically to maximise their opportunities.

What is it that draws American students to study in the UK? Is it the beautiful architecture of ancient universities like Oxford and Cambridge, with buildings dating back almost a thousand years? Perhaps it’s the pedigree of British institutions that are centres of discovery? 

Whatever your reasons for looking to study in the UK, it’s important to understand that the UK and US college admissions processes are fundamentally different in many ways and awareness of the two systems is imperative to securing your place at your dream university.

Cambridge, consistently ranked among the top universities globally, accepts only the most academically exceptional applicants who dream of studying at this historic institution. This global recognition naturally creates an exceptionally competitive admissions process. International students, representing over 20% of the undergraduate population, compete alongside top candidates from around the world. The admissions process for international applicants involves additional complexities as they are expected to demonstrate both cultural adaptability alongside academic excellence.